The City of Surrey released its Public Safety Strategy today which takes direct action on crime reduction, emergency response, disaster preparedness, transportation safety, and persistent social issues such as substance abuse, mental health, and homelessness. The strategy focuses on enhancing existing program integration and effectiveness, while identifying new initiatives designed to optimize public safety resources that are available to the City.

“With close to 1600 participants canvassed during the comprehensive consultation process, our Public Safety Strategy creates a unified vision to address all the many factors that help us feel safe in our community,” says Mayor Linda Hepner. “The strategy brings together agencies and resources under a single action plan that enhances 34 programs and new initiatives. We will measure our progress and successes every step of the way as we deliver this strategy in partnership with numerous community agencies and stakeholders.”

The Public Safety Strategy focuses on four priority areas: building community capacity; ensuring safe places; preventing and reducing crime; and supporting vulnerable people. The strategy includes the support and partnership of multiple agencies including the City of Surrey, Surrey RCMP, Surrey Fire Service, Surrey School District, Surrey Libraries, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and other community partners.

“Surrey’s Public Safety Strategy takes a broad approach with initiatives that will be delivered in partnership with community organizations and the Province,” said Hon. Mike Morris, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “I congratulate the City on their proactive strategy that offers innovative solutions to complex safety challenges that are not unique or isolated to Surrey.”

“The Public Safety Strategy has been designed to engage citizens and address all aspects of personal safety,” said Dr. Terry Waterhouse, Director of Public Safety Strategies. “Our job now is to engage the public, particularly young people and seniors, to ensure they are aware and can access or participate in programs and initiatives that enhance their safety. As part of the delivery of the strategy, there will be an enhanced City Dashboard that will track our progress and help inform and connect citizens to the services and initiatives outlined in the strategy.”

The 10 new initiatives announced as part of the overall strategy include: